Date posted March 17, 2010 | Posted by Michele Cullen | Filed under
Premium Updates,
Racing and Breeding,
Tale of the CatMelbourne, Vic (March 17th, 2010) - De Lightning Ridge gave her sire Tale of the Cat his 61st stakes winner when she saluted in the Group Two AJC Challenge Stakes at Randwick on Saturday.
Favourite for the Golden Slipper as a juvenile following a couple of dazzling early season wins at Canberra, De Lightning Ridge lost form after those efforts with an array of issues preventing her to reproduce her best.
Transferred to Joe Pride, De Lightning Ridge showed a hint of her old brilliance when resuming from a spell to win at Canterbury on February 12 with connections electing to give her a shot in the Group 2 event at Randwick.
The gamble proved a master stroke as De Lightning Ridge flew over the 1000-metre trip in 55.92 seconds, shaving more than 0.25 seconds off Zephyr Bay’s long-standing course record.
“I had a look at it [the record] this morning, I wasn’t sure that we’d do it, but with Fantene in I thought something would,” Pride said.
“That track record has stood since I was three-years old.”
De Lightning Ridge travelled in a midfield position throughout the run until jockey Glyn Schofield got her to the outside in the straight and she quickened down to record a super win.
“This is a machine this mare,” Pride said. “She works like the best horse in the stable and she looks like the best horse in the stable, she’s unbelievable.”
Pride said it was likely he’ll give De Lightning Ridge a shot at Group One glory in her next start.
“She’s dynamic off a hot speed and we’ll probably just keep her fresh and go to the Galaxy now,” he said
De Lightning Ridge is raced by Lockyer Thoroughbreds having been purchased for $260,000 from the draft of Guntawang Stud at the 2007 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.
She has the overall record of six wins and four placings from 16 starts with prizemoney of $224,320 and as a Group Two winner she’s got great value for her stud career later on.
Bred by Charlie Cropper and Peter Wynne, De Lightning Ridge is the third foal and first stakes-winner for former outstanding racemare Nanny Maroon (by Alquoz), a winner of 11 races and close to $400,000 in prizemoney.
Nanny Maroon had a filly last spring by Oratorio (by Danehill).
De Lightning Ridge is the third Australian stakes-winner this season for versatile shuttler Tale of the Cat (Storm Cat - Yarn by Mr Prospector) .
